THE Q49 STORY
Q49 SMOKEHOUSE, PASTARIA 49, AND Q91
How it all began –
The Q49 Family began as a passion project for Skip Steele and Dana Lamel. The two met after each had individual, and vastly different culinary careers.
Skip Steele opened his first restaurant in Jonesboro, Arkansas in 1980 – he was only 20 years old. Steele joined a Shipping Company and had the opportunity to travel the world learning the different approaches to barbecue. He took that knowledge to the competition level and began competing against other Pitmasters in whole hog, ribs and shoulder. Steele has continued to compete, participate in Food Festivals, and has opened restaurants internationally as well as across the United States.
Dana Lamel’s love of food began at an early age, preparing meals with his mother. He got his first restaurant job at 14 folding boxes for a local Italian eatery. Four years later, he was promoted to Sioux Chef. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, he worked alongside and opened four restaurants with Todd English.
In 2016, Michael Mina brought Lamel on as Chef de Cuisine for Levi’s Stadium. During the Michael Mina’s Tailgate event, Lamel met Skip Steele. Dana wanted something new and Skip understood that so he offered Lamel a job at one of his restaurants… to which Lamel declined. Lamel said he wanted to work WITH Steele not for him and thusly, Que49 Smokehouse opened its doors July 4, 2019.
With an Italian background, Dana was determined to open a second restaurant – one featuring the food he made and enjoyed with his family growing up. He dreamed of a wood fire pizza oven and handmaking pasta. And now, the Q49 Family has opened Pastaria 49 featuring both of those items. Stop by, come talk to us, and enjoy all of the delicious food that the Q49 Restaurants have to offer!